Printing telegraph apparatus



y 1939- R. E ZENNER 2,157,517

PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1337 INVENTOR. RAYMOND E. ZENNER ATTORNEY.

Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Raymond E. Zenner, Brookfield, Ill., assignor to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application July 16, 1937, Serial No. 154,052

17 Claims.

The present invention pertains to printing telegraph machines and more particularly to printing telegraph machines wherein the message is printed in page form.

ie primary object of the invention is an arrangement for assuring proper and reliable operation of remotely controlled telegraph printers.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for preventing the continuance of the spacing and printing functions in a page printer after the movable carriage has reached the end of a predetermined length of line, thus obviating the undesirable consequences which would otherwise result from the loss or mutilation of the carriage return signal in its transmission.

When a carriage return signal is lost or trans formed in transit, thereby changing its identity, or if the operator fails to send a carriage return signal, the function of returning the carriage to the beginning of line position will not be performed. If a carriage return signal is thus lost, the characters continue to be printed while the carriage is at rest at the end of the line. Moreover, if a carriage return signal is lost or transformed and the carriage is not returned to the beginning of line position, the spacing operations which are performed automatically, either with the printing operation or independently, continue to be performed and thus tend to urge the carriage beyond the limits of the apparatus, thereby causing damage to the spacing mechanism and the resultant failure of the carriage return mechanism to operate.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are achieved by the provision in a printing telegraph apparatus of the type disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,904,164, of an end of line printing and spacing cut-out function mechanism effective directly upon the printing function mechanism. With this arrangement, as the carriage advances step by step, for each spacing operation, and reaches its predetermined ultimate position, an adjustable screw thereon engages a bell crank lever, which raises a latch arm into the path of the printing mechanism to limit its movement. By so blocking the movement of the printing mechanism, printing is prevented and since the operation of spacing is normally under the control of the printing mechanism, further advancement of the carriage cannot be effected.

A better understanding-of the invention may be had from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary transverse section and View of the printer, corresponding substantially to Fi 7 of U. S. Patent No. 1,904,164, with the 5 addition of the printing and. spacing cut-out mechanism of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of parts of the printing apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view showing details of the printing and spacing cut-out mechanism, as well as the spacing mechanism; and

Fig. 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing elements of the spacing mechanism and the device according to the present invention.

In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters indicate like parts throughout. For a complete understanding of details not disclosed herein, which form no part of the present invention, reference may be had to U. S. Patent No. 20 1,904,164 issued April 18, 1933 to S. Morton et a1.

Briefly, having reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the printing apparatus to which the printing and spacing cut-out mechanism of the present invention is applied, comprises a typing unit indicated generally as It in Fig. 1, which includes a primary selecting mechanism indicated generally as N (Fig. 2) which is of the sword-and-T-type as disclosed in U. S. Patent 1,745,633 to S. Morton et al., and a secondary selector, or selector vane assembly, indicated generally as |2. The selector vane assembly |2 controls, through. a series of bell cranks l3, a corresponding series of curved code bars |4 carried in a movable type carriage indicated generally as I5. As set forth in the first mentioned patent, this type carriage is movable longitudinally with respect to a stationary platen indicated generally as I6 (Fig. 1).

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, a motor I8 supplies power through a gear |9 to a main operating shaft 2| which carries the spacing mechanism, indicated generally as 22 and the selector cam assembly, indicated generally as 23. As is known in this type of device, power is communicated from the motor to a cam assembly, indicated generally as 40, carried loosely on the shaft 2| through a grab clutch such as 25. Portion 24 of grab clutch 25 constantly rotates with the shaft 2|, which has also frictionally connected thereto the spacing mechanism 22 and the selecting cam drum 23. Portion 24 is adapted to be cooperatively engaged with the driven portion 26 when throw-out lever 21 is operated in timed relation with the reception of code signals.

The spacing mechanism 22, which will be described more in detail hereinafter, controls, through gear 28, shaft 23, gear 3|, and rack 32 (Figs. 2 and 3), the movement of type carriage l to form character spaces, acting in this movement to wind up a carriage return spring (not shown).

Positioned in operative relation with and parallel to the main operating shaft 2| is an auxiliary shaft E1 on which are supported various mechanisms; for example, printing bail 20, function lever bail 33, and the escapement mechanism for the spacing mechanism 22. The printing bail 29, which is actuated by a printing spring 33 in proper timed relation in the operating cycle, functions to reciprocate a pull bar operating member 34 to cause the operation of a type bar, as fully described in the aforementioned patent.

Having reference to Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown mounted on the main shaft 2| and located centrally of the apparatus as indicated in Fig. 2, a sleeve member 35 which comprises an escapement ratchet 36 and a spacing worm 31 integral therewith. Sleeve member 35 is operatively connected to the hub of a disc 38 by means of interengaging tongue and groove members 39. A collar 4| is pinned to main shaft 2| and is rotatable therewith, and interposed between disc 38 and collar 4| is a disc 42 of frictional material; for example, felt. By means of a helical compression spring 43, sleeve 35 is frictionally connected to shaft 2| through the friction clutch compris ing members 38, 4|, and 42. Sleeve 35 is thereby rotatable with main shaft 2| unless arrested by an escapement pawl of the spacing mechanism 22.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that ratchet 36 is provided; for example, with three teeth 44, 44a, and 4417 the escapements of which will allow the type carriage |5 to be moved forward one step or character space for each actuation of the printing bail 26. The escapement mechanism 22 comprises a pair of pawls or levers 45 and 46, pivotally mounted on bail shaft l1, and lever 41 adjustably fixed to printing bail 28. A spring 48 normally biases levers 45 and 4B. Lever 45 is normally urged by spring 48 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 4) so that laterally disposed end 49 engages tooth 44 of ratchet 36, thus arresting the rotation of said ratchet. Lever 46 is normally held out of engagement with ratchet 36 against the tension of spring 48 by the action of lever 41 against laterally disposed end 5|.

Lever 41 is attached to printing bail 26 at 52 and is provided at 53 with a slot and screw adjusting means, whereby the correct relative position of escapement levers 45 and 46 with respect to ratchet 36 may be determined.

The spacing operation is effected in the following manner: When a character code signal is received the selector drum 23 (Fig. 2) is initiated into rotation, and at a timed instant in the cycle of rotation of drum 23 clutch throwout arm 21 is actuated to permit rotation of cam assembly 48 through the engagement of clutch 25. Cam assembly 46 carries a printing control cam 54 which together with printing spring 33 controls the oscillation of the printing bail 28. When the printing bail 28 oscillates to effect printing, it also controls lever arm 41. During the initial portion of the clockwise rotation of arm 41 (as viewed in Fig. 4) lever 46 under the action of spring 48 also rotates clockwise to bring the laterally disposed end 55 into the path of tooth 44a. It is noted that, due to the space indicated at 56 between arm 41 and laterally disposed end 51 of lever 45, the lever 45 has not yet been acted upon, and the end 49 thereof remains momentarily in engagement with tooth 44.

However, upon the further clockwise movement of lever 41 similar movement is imparted through laterally disposed end 51 to lever 45 thus effecting the disengagement of end 49 from tooth 44 and permitting ratchet 36 to rotate in a clockwise direction under the influence of friction clutch members 38 to 4| (Fig. 3) until arrested by the engagement of tooth 44a with laterally disposed end 55 of lever 46 which lever, as was noted, was free to rotate in a clockwise direction under the tension of spring 48 into the path of oncoming tooth 44a. Ratchet 36 thus is restrained from rotation by lever 46 until the completion of the printing of a character at which time printing bail 28 and associated lever 41 are caused to rotate in the opposite direction by the action of the printing cam 54.

Restraint of lever 45 by lever 41 through end 51 is thereby removed permitting lever 45 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction under the influence of spring 48 to bring end 49 into the path of tooth 44b of ratchet 36. During this counterclockwise movement of lever 41, and after the aforementioned release of lever 45, lever 46 is caused to rotate in a like direction due to the action of lever 41 on end 5| thereof, thereby disengaging end 55 of lever 48 from tooth 44a and allowing ratchet 36 to continue its rotation until arrested by the engagement of end 49 of lever 45 with oncoming tooth 441). It is observed that with the escapement mechanism just described, there is a period of overlap of operation wherein ends 49 and 55, due to the space indicated at 55, are effective simultaneously to pre vent the escapement of ratchet 36, the ends 49 and 55 being otherwise alternately engageable to permit the escapement of ratchet 52.

It is obvious that since worm 31 and ratchet 36 are integrally connected to sleeve 35, worm 31 will have normally the same intermittent or stepb-y-step motion as was previously described as imparted to ratchet 36. Worm 31 is meshed with worm gear 28 (Fig. 1) which is mounted loosely on vertical shaft 29, and is operably connected thereto by means of a grab clutch 56. Worm 36 and gear 28 are so related, according to the present embodiment, that one-third revolution of worm 31 will rotate gear 28 to a distance which, through gear 3| and rack 32, causes the type carriage to be stepped forward one character space.

From the foregoing it will be observed that character spacing occurs automatically and concomitantly with the printing of each character; that is, the spacing function is merged with the printing operation. It is well known that there is a code combination allotted to each type bar, but it is possible to employ a code combination commonly known as a spacing signal, which is identified with no type bar but which will nevertheless initiate the printing operation. Therefore, spacing between words is accomplished when a spacing signal is received, in exactly the same manner as previously set forth except that no type bar is operated and consequently no character is printed.

To prevent serious damage to the printing apparatus due to the loss or transformation of the carriage return signal in transmission over the line, means has been provided for cutting-out or preventing the spacing and printing operations after the carriage has reached the end of a predetermined length of line and such means may be applied to printers provided with a movable platen carriage with equal facility as to a printer arranged with a movable type carriage. The carriage return code signal may have been transmitted correctly from the sending station, but in transmission over the line it may have lost or gained a characteristic thereby changing the identity of the signal. Therefore, if a carriage return code signal is lost or transformed, the carriage will not be returned at the end of the line preparatory to beginning the next line, and the spacing and printing operations should not continue to be performed, thus tending to urge the type carriage beyond the limits of the apparatus and consequently cause damage to the spacing and printing mechanism.

To preclude this occurrence a latch arm or lever 59 is provided which is pivotally mounted at 6| on a bracket 62 suitably supported at 63 to a main frame member 64 of the typing unit I 8. Lever 59 terminates in a shouldered portion which is adapted to have latching engagement with a blade 65 of the printing bail 28. As indicated in Fig. 1, a predetermined amount of clearance is provided at 60, between the shouldered portion and blade 65 when the printing bail 29 is in its extreme clockwise position (as viewed in Fig. 1) under the control of cam 54. The purpose of clearance 68 is to permit the selection of function levers 8i82 even when the spacing and printing cut-out device of the present invention is effective. This clearance is analogous in purpose to that provided between upturned end 58 of function bail 30 and the inner arms of those function levers 8| wherein the printing and spacing functions are suppressed, as set forth in Patent No. 1,904,164. Briefly, the said clearances are necessary so as to permit at least a limited movement of the printing and function bails to insure the selectivity of the function levers 8l--82. This is important because, if less motion were permitted the function levers would not be selected, thus preventing the performance of functions; for example, carriage return. Were more motion permitted, spacing would result. Lever 59 is normally biased in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 1) out of latching engagement with printing bail 20 by a spring 66. As viewed in Fig. 3, lever 59 cooperates with an arm 6'! of a three-armed lever 68 pivoted at 69 to bracket 92. Lever 68 is normally biased in a clockwise direction against a stop H by a spring 12. Depending arm 13 of lever 68 cooperates with teeth carried on disc 38; namely, 74, 14a, and 14b on disc 38 which correspond to the teeth 44, 44a, and MD on the spacing ratchet 36.

Mounted on arm I integral with the frame of type carriage I5 is an adjustable stop screw 16 which is in alignment with upstanding arm T! of the three-armed lever 68. Screw 16 and lever 68 are so adjusted and arranged that when the type carriage 15 has completed the spacing operation after the printing of the last character of a predetermined length of line, screw 76 will have struck arm 11 of lever 68 causing lever 68 to rotate about its pivot 69 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 3) against the action of its spring 52 thereby presenting depending end 13 in the path of teeth 14, 1.411, or 14b of disc 38, and also raising arm 61 to impart in turn, clockwise rotation (as viewed in Fig. 1) to lever 59 to bring lever 59 into latching engagement with blade 65 of printing bail 20. Then, so long as screw 16 is thus bearing against lever 68 urging it to its counterclockwise position (as viewed in Fig. 3) printing bail 20 will be latched or locked against printing or oscillating movement until subsequently a carriage return signal is received, whereupon carriage I5 is returned to the beginning of line position, and levers 68 and 59 are permitted to return to their normal spring biased positions by their springs 12 and 66, respectively. Bracket 62 is provided with a forwardly directed projection 18 (as viewed in Fig. 3) which serves to limit the counterclockwise movement of lever 68.

Since, as previously mentioned, the printing bail 20 controls the spacing operation, the arrestment of the printing bail will not only prevent the printing operation, but simultaneously will also prevent the spacing operation. Obviously, the depending arm 13 of lever 68 is not effective for or during normal printing and spacing operations. The specific function of depending arm 13, however, will be presently set forth.

The selector vanes l2 (Fig. 1) as set forth in Patent No. 1,904,164 control a series of function levers, indicated generally as 8|, among which is a tabulating function lever 82, which, like the other function levers, is pivoted on a common pivot 83 and is assembled in a slot in the function lever comb 84. This function lever 82, like the rest of the function levers of the series, is provided with an individual spring 85 tensioned between the function lever and the printer frame, which tends to rotate the function lever 82 about pivot 83, but as set forth in Patent No. 1,904,164, is restrained by the function lever bail 30 acting, through rod 86, on arm 81.

The tabulating mechanism with which depending arm 13 of lever 68 of the present invention is concerned, is fully disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,076,864, issued April 13, 1937 to A. H. Reiber. A brief description of this mechanism will be given herein, but for a complete understanding of details not disclosed here and which form no part of the present invention, reference may be had to said Reiber patent.

Function lever 82 is provided with a horizontal portion 88 so conformed that its extremity 89 engages the lower edge of arm 9| of a lever 92 pivotally carried at 93 on a support 94 secured to the function lever comb 84. The operative relation between function lever 82 and lever 92 is such that when function lever 82 is permitted to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 1) under the action of its spring 85 upon the proper setting of the vane 12 in response to the tabulation code signal, the end 89 is elevated, causing lever 92 to rotate slightly in a counterclockwise direction against the tension of its spring, not shown, but which maintains it in a horizontal position.

Upon the clockwise rotation of lever 92, (as viewed in Fig. 4) due to the selection of function lever 82, arm 9| and consequently a portion 95 carried thereon will be raised, and in so doing will, through pin 96 carried on an extension on escapement lever 45, lift the escapement lever 45 out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 36, which, since the lever 46 is at this time prevented from engaging the teeth of the ratchet 36 due to its being held in inoperative position by lever 41, permit the worm gear 31 to revolve freely, and therefore the type carriage IE will be spaced continuously so long as the escapement lever 45 is held out of operative engagement with ratchet 36, which is maintained in this position due to the engagement of lever 92 with a latch in the tabulator bar as disclosed in the aforementioned Reiber patent. As pointed out in said patent, the carriage will continue to move until it strikes a tabulator stop, after which lever 92 is restored to its horizontal position and escapement lever 45 is returned into operative engagement with the teeth 44 on the escapement ratchet 36.

The function lever 82, however, will have been returned to its non-selected position, as shown in Fig. 1, at the completion of the first revolution or cycle of operation of the main shaft 2i by the return stroke or upward movement of shaft or rod 8'6 of the function bail 30, where the lever 82 will be held unoperated until the reception of another tabulator code signal, pursuant to which the foregoing cycle of operation will again occur. A featiu'e of the present invention is to preclude the undesirable consequences which will ensue if the tabulator signal is received when the carriage is nearing the end of the predetermined length of line. It is possible under certain conditions that the tabulation movement of the carriage I will tend to carry Tie carriage i5 beyond the limits of the machine. According to the present invention should a tabulator signal be received to initiate tabulation near the end of a line, the carriage l5 can move only so far as to cause stop 16 to engage the arm ll of the three-armed lever 68 to bring the depending arm 13 into the path of one of the teeth 74, 14a, and Mb of the stop disc 38. Thus is continued spacing beyond a predetermined point prevented.

Obviously, changes may be made in the details set forth without departing from the essentials of the invention or from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

In a telegraph printer, mechanism operable under certain operating conditions, other mechanism operable under the control of said mechanism, a traveling carriage, means carried on said carriage to control arresting functions, an instrumentality actuated by said means and operable in a predetermined manner to suppress the operation of said other mechanism, and an element actuated by said instrumentality to effect the arrestinent of operation of both of said mechanisms when said carriage reaches a predetermined position.

2. In a telegraph printer, a printing mechanism operable under certain operating conditions, a spacing mechanism operable under the control oi said printing mechanism, a traveling carriage, means carried on said carriage to control arresting functions, a member actuated by said means and operable in a predetermined manner to suppress the operation of said spacing mechanism, and a latch arm actuated by said member to restrain, under certain predetermined conditions, the printing mechanism against operation with the resultant prevention of operation of the spacing mechanism.

3. In a recorder, a carriage, a printing bail, means controlled by said printing bail for successively advancing said carriage for spacing, means cooperative directly with said printing bail and effective when said carriage has reached a predetermined position for rendering said printing bail and said spacing means ineffective simultaneously, tabulating mechanism effective on said spacing mechanism independently of said printing bail to enable under certain conditions a predetermined continuance of spacing movement to said carriage, and means included in said second recited means to prevent when said position has been reached the operation of said spacing mechanism in response to the operation of said tabulating mechanism.

l. In a telegraph printer, a carriage, a printing bail, means controlled by said printing bail for successively advancing said carriage for spacing, and latch means cooperative directly with said printing bail and effective when said carriage has reached a predetermined position for rendering said printing bail and said spacing means ineffective simultaneously.

5. In a telegraph printer, printing mechanism, spacing mechanism therefor, and means comprising a plural armed lever and a latch arm cooperating with said printing and spacing mechanisms for automatically rendering both said mechanisms ineifective in response to signalling impulses under predetermined conditions.

6. In a telegraph printer, a carriage, printing mechanism cooperating therewith, means for advancing said carriage for spacing, and means comprising a plural armed lever and a latch arm for simultaneously automatically rendering said spacing means ineffective and arresting the printing operation when said carriage has reached a predetermined position.

'7. In a telegraph printer, a movable type carriage, printing mechanism cooperating therewith, means for effecting the spacing movement of said carriage, a plural armed lever, and a latch arm, one of the arms of said lever arms effective for automatically rendering the spacing means ineffective and another of said lever arms efiective with said latch arm for rendering the printing 1 mechanism ineifective simultaneously therewith after said carriage has reached a predetermined position.

8. In a telegraph page printer, a type carriage, printing means cooperating with said type carriage, means for effecting spacing, and means comprising a plural armed lever, and a latch arm for automatically rendering the spacing means and the printing mechanism ineffective simultaneously alter a predetermined length of line has been printed.

9. In a recorder, printing mechanism, spacing mechanism controlled by said printing mechanism, and dual means to prevent the operation of the spacing mechanism comprising an element effective directly upon the spacing mechanism, and an element effective indirectly through said printing mechanism.

10. In a recorder, printing mechanism, spacing mechanism controlled by said printing mechanism, and means comprising a plural armed lever and a latch arm to prevent the operation of the spacing mechanism, said lever acting through one of its arms to effect directly the prevention of operation of said spacing mechanism, and acting through another of its arms to cause said latch arm to be effective to arrest the printing operation, thereby preventing indirectly the operation of the spacing mechanism.

11. In a telegraph printer, a carriage, a printing bail, means controlled by said printing bail for successively advancing said carriage for spacing, a pivoted member, a latch arm, and means carried by said carriage effective when said carriage has reached a predetermined position to cause said member to actuate said latch arm into latching engagement with said printing bail to render said printing bail and said spacing means ineffective simultaneously.

12. In a telegraph printer, a movable carriage, a main operating shaft, a printing mechanism controlled by said shaft, latching means for said printing mechanism, a spacing mechanism for said carriage comprising a multi-toothed disc driven by said shaft, a plural armed lever having one arm to engage the teeth of said disc but normally held out of engagement therewith and another arm adapted to actuate said means into latching engagement with said printing mechanism, and means carried by said carriage acting on the third arm of said lever when said carriage is in a predetermined position to cause simultaneously the engagement of said first mentioned arm with a tooth of said disc and the latching of said printing mechanism by said latch arm to arrest operation of the spacing and printing mechanisms.

13. In a telegraph printer, mechanism operable under certain operating conditions, mechanism operable under other operating conditions, a traveling carriage, an instrumentality controlled by said carriage when in a predetermined position and operable in a predetermined manner to suppress the operation of one of said mechanisms, and an element actuated by said instrumentality to efiect the arrestment of operation of both of said mechanisms when said carriage reaches said predetermined position.

14. In a telegraph printer, mechanism operable under certain operating conditions, mechanism operable under other operating conditions, a traveling carriage, means under the control of said carriage to control arresting functions, an instrumentality controlled by said means and operable in a predetermined manner to suppress the operation of one of said mechanisms, and an element actuated by said instrumentality to effect the arrestment of operation of both of said mechanisms when said carriage reaches a predetermined position.

15. In a telegraph printer, mechanism operable under certain operating conditions, mechanism operable under other operating conditions, a traveling carriage, a plural armed lever controlled by said carriage when in a predetermined position, one arm of which acts to suppress the operation of one of said mechanisms, and an element controlled by another arm of said lever to effect the arrestment of operation of both of said mechanisms when said carriage reaches said predetermined position.

16. In a telegraph printer, mechanism operable under certain operating conditions, mechanism operable under other operating conditions, a traveling carriage, means under the control of said carriage to control arresting functions, a plural armed lever controlled by said means, one arm of which acts to suppress the operation of one of said mechanisms, and an element controlled by another arm of said lever to effect the arrestment of operation of both of said mechanisms when said carriage reaches a predetermined position.

1'7. In a telegraph printer, mechanism operable under certain operating conditions, other mechanism operable under the control of said mechanism, a traveling carriage, means carried on said carriage to control arresting functions, a plural armed lever actuated by said means, one arm of which acts to suppress the operation of said other mechanism, and an element actuated by another arm of said lever to effect the arrestment of operation of said mechanisms when said carriage reaches a predetermined position.

- RAYMOND E. ZENNER. 

